OLD LYME, Conn. – January 2009 - Audio specialist Sennheiser is getting the new year off to an exciting start with the Sennheiser Stagemeister Contest. One lucky winner will accompany Canadian pop-punk band Simple Plan for one week on their summer tour, helping to prep the stage, conduct sound checks, tend to the bandmates and their instruments, and essentially create an unforgettable performance for the audience. Residents of the U.S. and Canada can enter to win via the specially-dedicated website, www.sennheiser-stagemeister.com, until March 31, 2009.

"We are delighted that Simple Plan finds this competition just as fascinating as we do," said Susanne Seidel, president global marketing at Sennheiser. "For many, and especially for young people, being a roadie is their dream, and it's great that we can give the winners the opportunity to gain some first-hand experience in this area after some intensive training."

WHY PICK ME?
This is the question that entrants from the U.S. and Canada have to consider right from the start. Their online application with a video or a photo will have to convince the jury - made up of Sennheiser experts and Simple Plan's production manager - why they would be the ideal candidate for the job of "part-time roadie." The competition closes on March 31, after which date the jury will select the two most suitable candidates and invite them to a telephone interview that will decide the winner.

THE TRAINING.
A two-day training session at Sennheiser in Canada or the U.S. will prepare the winner for the job with Simple Plan. The training program will include an introduction to RF technology, miking techniques, touring and production equipment, and a brief insight into "roadie lingo." The future roadies will also be provided with a camera and a laptop so that they will be able to report on their experiences in a daily blog at www.sennheiser-stagemeister.com

"The North American phase will then be followed by other Sennheiser subsidiaries and partners, as well as bands from other parts of the world," explained Seidel. "This will give music fans from around the globe the opportunity to apply as a roadie for a band. It's certainly not an easy job and will require a lot of dedication from our candidates, but they will be proud of their achievement after every show. After all, they will have helped to create an unforgettable performance for the audience."

Noted Jeff Stinco from Simple Plan: "This contest gives you the chance to test your newly-acquired skills on the road, with us and our technical crew. If you win, our techs will guide you through your work and show you how things really happen backstage. There's a lot of magic that goes on behind the scenes of a good rock show. Don't think you're going on a holiday here; you have a lot of work ahead of you. We wouldn't be able to play for thousands of fans year after year if we didn't have such a great team supporting us thinking about every detail that makes a Simple Plan show happen. Good luck and we hope to see you backstage at one of our shows very soon."

SENNHEISER
Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Sennheiser's pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.